By Dahni Tsuboi, CEO, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
Every first day carries a certain weight.
My first weeks at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California have been filled with listening to staff, to partners, to community members whose stories reflect both deep struggle and extraordinary resilience. And today, May 1, marks a meaningful beginning: the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
This month is a time to celebrate the richness, diversity, and contributions of AAPI communities but it is also a time to reflect honestly on the conditions our communities are navigating right now.
That May 1 is also International Workers’ Day, a day rooted in collective power and the fight for dignity only deepens that reflection.
Together, these moments remind us of a fundamental truth: the story of AAPI communities in this country is inseparable from the story of labor, migration, and collective struggle.
The story of AAPI communities in this country is, in so many ways, a story of labor, of farmworkers who bent their backs in fields while dreaming of a better future for their children; of garment workers who stitched opportunity into every seam; of immigrants who built lives in the face of exclusion, violence, and invisibility. This is not just history, it is the living foundation of who we are as AAPI communities today.
And it continues, especially now.
Recent data from AJSOCAL’s research underscores what many in our communities already know: AAPI communities are not a monolith, and too many are being left out of the conversation. Across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, disparities in housing, healthcare, employment, and language access persist, often hidden when data are not broken down by ethnicity.
We are living through a moment that demands clarity and courage. Across Southern California and the nation, immigrant communities are facing intensified threats, and AAPI families are not exempt. At a time when immigration is too often discussed without AAPI voices, we must be clear: immigration has always been an AAPI issue.
In fact, nearly 60% of Asian Americans in our region are foreign-born, and it is estimated that nearly 16% of the undocumented population is Asian. And yet, their experiences remain too often invisible, even as enforcement actions continue to impact families in profound ways.
Detentions and deportations impacting AAPI individuals are happening, often quietly, often without headlines, but the consequences are anything but invisible. Behind each case is a family navigating fear, uncertainty, and loss. When a primary income earner is suddenly taken, the consequences ripple quickly: housing becomes unstable, healthcare becomes out of reach, and entire families are pushed to the brink.
Data shows just how fragile that stability can be. Over half of AAPI renters in Southern California are already housing cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing. When a wage earner disappears, there is often no cushion, only crisis.
At AJSOCAL, we see this reality every day.
We are stepping up, fortifying immigrant defense efforts, ensuring our communities know their rights, and providing legal guidance to help families navigate an increasingly complex and unforgiving system. We are also working to stabilize what is too often destabilized overnight, connecting families to critical support so they can remain housed, access care, and stay together.
At the same time, we are preparing for another critical pillar in this work: protecting our democracy.
Honoring our heritage also means protecting our future, and that includes ensuring our communities can fully participate in our democracy. That means expanding language access, combating misinformation, and showing up at the polls, including through monitoring efforts that protect voters from intimidation and ensure their voices are counted.
The need is clear. Nearly 70% of Asian Americans in our region speak a language other than English at home, and more than one-third are limited-English proficient. Without intentional investment in language access, too many voices risk being left out of the democratic process.
Because civic participation is not separate from justice work. It is central to it.
And we must also name another truth: the rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric and policy is not happening in isolation. It fuels division. It scapegoats communities. And it contributes to the continued rise in anti-Asian hate incidents that too many in our communities are still experiencing.
These issues are connected. And so must be our response.
In just a few short weeks here, I’ve seen what that response looks like. I’ve watched our staff show up, again and again with urgency, compassion, and expertise. I’ve seen partners lean in with collaboration and care. And I’ve met community members who, even in the face of fear and diminishing resources, continue to organize, advocate, and support one another.
This is what it means to “make AAPI lives better.” It is not abstract. It is daily, human, and deeply personal.
But if my early days have reinforced anything, it’s this: we cannot do this work alone.
The strength of this organization and of this movement comes from connection. From partners who collaborate, donors who invest, volunteers who give their time, and community members who trust us with their stories. Progress is not built in isolation. It is built together.
As a new leader, I think often about what it means to earn that trust.
For me, it begins with showing up. It means listening before speaking. It means making decisions that reflect our values, even when they are difficult. And it means ensuring that our work is accountable to the very communities we serve.
There is no shortage of challenges ahead. But there is also no shortage of power.
As we begin Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and on this same day honor the legacy of workers who fought for dignity and justice, I am reminded that we inherit more than history, we inherit responsibility.
To continue the work. To expand it. To protect one another. And to make it possible for the next generation to stand on stronger ground.
To those who have been part of this movement for years: thank you. Your commitment has built something enduring.
To those just finding your way here: you are welcome. There is a place for you in this work.
And to all of us: this is our moment to move forward, together.
In solidarity,
Dahni Tsuboi
